The Best Jobs for the ENFP Personality Type

In the parlance of the Myers Briggs personality test, ENFPs are Extroverted, Intuiting, Feeling Perceivers. Approximately 5 percent of the general population fits this type. ENFPs consider their emotional experiences vital but they are also known for their independent spirit. According to a Purdue University paper on the subject, these types have a wide variety of career options available to them.

The ENFP in the Workplace

As extroverts, ENFPs are "people people." Warm and enthusiastic, they connect easily with their co-workers. Don't look for Machievallian backstabbing from this type; ENFPs encourage others to share their strengths and are quick to give credit where it's due. The preferred work environment is lively and somewhat unstructured. They like to be in an atmosphere where unconventional solutions to problems are encouraged. Constant variety of work tasks is appealing to the ENFP employee.

The ENFP in a Leadership Role

The enthusiastic nature of ENFPs gives them a natural advantage when it comes to rallying the troops and their fluency with expressive language makes them natural public speakers. Because of their intuitive capacity, the ENFP instinctively knows what it will take to get "buy in" from project participants. One weakness of the ENFP manager is a tendency to get bored with mundane details. Bill Clinton is a prime example of an ENFP with highly evolved political skills.

ENFP as Artist

Because the ENFP is considered to be a visionary and an innovator, these types can often be found in the creative fields. Some recommended artistic careers for the ENFP include actor, writer, performer, poet, costume designer and choreographer. The arts appeal to ENFPs in part because they are attracted to vocations that are considered somewhat "fun" versus a more rigidly structured profession with little room for creativity, such as car mechanic or tax accountant.

ENFP as Inventor

The ENFP is considered visionary and entreprenuerial, making them ideal inventors. Theodore Giesel, aka Dr. Seuss, used his creative powers to develop fictional worlds from Whoville to Truffula Tree Forest. A ENFP inventor might work better on a team however, since this type thrives on the dynamic interaction of co-workers for inspiration. A ENFP who tests on the cusp of "introversion" and "extroversion" on the Myers Briggs indicator might be a stronger candidate for a fulfilling career as an inventor.